Video

[singersalvages]

This ain't one of my phones.

[The video flickers on to the worn face of bearded man, beady eyes peering down at the screen.Guess it is now. Okay, now that I know this whole thing's not a dream or an unpleasant side effect of too much rotgut, anyone mind telling me where the hell I am? I've been a lot of places and this don't look like a one of

Comments

[ voice ]

[swordofmiltia]

You've arrived in Anatole. Where, exactly, that may be is still unclear.

[ less bothered by this whole thing now. It's got a sort of numbing effect. ]

What you hold is the Forge and allows you to speak with us, other 'Scorched' as we've been called. It's a rather convenient device.

[ voice ]

[singersalvages]

Scorched? That don't sound too comforting. Why are we called that?

[ voice ]

[swordofmiltia]

I'm afraid I know very little on the subject. It's simply become something accepted. I'd recommend asking them directly, but merely being from another world is enough for them to distrust us.

[ voice ]

[singersalvages]

Them? You mean the ones running around dressed like Charles Dickens meets a junkyard?

[trickster_treat]

Welcome to Planet Bob!

[singersalvages]

You.

Don't suppose you'd have anything to do with all this.

[trickster_treat]

We're all dead. Welcome to hell.

[singersalvages]

Right. 'Cause you're known for being so up front about things.

Besides, I've heard a few things about the place. The real one.

[Video]

[sleuth_ing]

...Balls?

[Video]

[singersalvages]

Just an expression. [And a slip. He thought he'd turned this blasted thing off.]

[Video]

[sleuth_ing]

I see. Well, there's no need to be vulgar. The city contains plenty of resources if you know where to look.

[Video]

[singersalvages]

I don't mean it like-

[Okay, so maybe he does.]

Resources? They got a library?

Video.

[onequarter]

You are currently in the city of Anatole. You have been transported here from your world, along with many others, though the reason is yet unknown to us. Beware the Mist.

Video.

[singersalvages]

Anatole, huh. You're the second one that's mentioned that name. What's this 'mist' stuff you're talking about?

Video.

[onequarter]

It surrounds the city. Too long in it and it affects you.

Video.

[singersalvages]

Effects us, how, exactly. Or do I even wanna know? [Okay, that was rhetorical. He always wants to know.]

video;

[unorthodoxies]

Rotgut.

You should've been drinking something better, anyway. That's a crime, in itself.

video;

[singersalvages]

Sometimes it's more about the quantity than the quality.

video;

[unorthodoxies]

That so?

So you were trying to shoot your liver to high hell?

video;

[singersalvages]

Trust me, it probably won't make much difference in the long run.

[Dying of cirrhosis? Probably not. His liver getting ripped out along with the rest of his guts? More likely.]

You strike me as more of a wine drinker though.